- Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 0
This was Tottenham’s day of derby delight. After four years competing in the English women’s top flight, they finally claimed a first victory over north London rivals Arsenal.
After conceding 11 goals in their past two league games, it could also be the psychological springboard Robert Vilahamn’s side so desperately need to drag themselves out of the rut they have been stuck in of late.
Martha Thomas’s goal — her seventh of the season — proved decisive as Spurs weathered a storm to win. The Scotland international has been something of a revelation since joining Spurs from Manchester United at the start of the season and she silenced a sizeable pocket of Arsenal fans on the hour mark, converting a wonderful team goal.
In front of a bumper crowd that included Tottenham’s men’s manager Ange Postecoglou and club chairman Daniel Levy, she was at full stretch as she put the ball past a static Manuela Zinsberger to become the WSL’s joint-top scorer after Celin Bizet’s probing run down the right caught out Arsenal duo Steph Catley and Lotte Wubben-Moy.
Vilahamn, the Tottenham manager, praised his side’s defensive cohesiveness but also the manner in which they survived concerted pressure to record their first league win since mid-October. “It just shows that these players are growing as people as well,” he said. “They are brave footballers and I love to work with brave footballers.”
For Arsenal, it is one step back after two forward. If the WSL title race goes down to the wire — like it did last year — then their wastefulness in front of goal in this fixture could return to haunt them.
Jonas Eidevall’s side have established themselves among the most ruthless counter-attacking teams in the Women’s Super League this season but here they were ineffective going forward.
Their transitional play stood out when they ripped through reigning champions Chelsea last weekend, but on a day when they struggled to break down Spurs’ stubborn defensive shape, they were given a dose of their own medicine when Thomas’ sucker punch flipped the match on its head.
Up until that point, they had exerted total control over Spurs, but squandered myriad chances in front of goal. It took them 42 minutes to even register a shot on target when Frida Maanum forced a save from Barbora Votikova, Spurs’ Czech keeper, who shone on her league debut.
Arsenal’s best chance came when Caitlin Foord’s curling first-half effort struck the post, while Alessia Russo — who was well marshalled all game by Tottenham’s alert backline — watched her a glancing header drift wide of the goal. “We’re disappointed with the result and with our efficiency,” conceded Eidevall. “We played well enough to win the match. We should have won.”
Eidevall deployed Vivianne Miedema, who is still returning to full fitness after an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament, midway through the second half. She joined Beth Mead and Russo in attack on her 100th league appearance. The trio — who are surely among the most feared front threes in the league — could not break the Spurs resistance.
Rosella Ayane was denied at the death as Spurs launched another late counter to close out a famous win in front of 19,480 fans.
“The players deserve to play at the big stadiums,” said Vilahamn. “Even though we didn’t fill the stadium today, there was an atmosphere to keep us going. We did it together today.”
Tottenham Hotspur (4-4-2) Votikova 8; James 8, Buhler 5 (Turner 19min, 5), Bartrip 8, Neville 8; Bizet 9 (Ayane 90+5, 4), Graham 6, Clinton 6, Petzelberger 7; Thomas 8 (Percival 86min, 6), England 5 (Naz 45min, 7). Booked Votikova. Subs Spencer (g), Zadorsky, Brazil, Percival, Ale, Pearse.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1) Zinsberger 6; McCabe 6 (Lacasse 89min, 4), Ilestedt 5, Wubben-Moy 5, Catley 5; Pelova 6 (Cooney-Cross 4min, 65), Walti 5 (Blackstenius 80min, 4); Mead 5, Maanum 4 (Miedema 65min, 4), Foord 4; Russo 4. Booked Wubben-Moy. Subs D’Angelo (g), Beattie, Maritz, Kuhl, Codina.
Referee Cheryl Foster. Att 19,048.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/12/16/tottenham-derby-win-over-arsenal-wsl-result-score/
